Lake Lubāns is the largest lake in Latvia (in Latvian: Lubāns, Lubānas ezers or Lubāna ezers).
The lake lies in the center of the Eastern Latvian Lowland. It is a shallow drainage lake, fed by the Rēzekne, Malta, Malmuta and Lisiņa rivers and several smaller brooks, with an outflow via the Aiviekste River into the Daugava River.
After the damaging spring floods in 1926, several dams and ditches were constructed. The elevation of the lake is allowed to fluctuate between approximately 90 and 93 metres above sea level. At an elevation of 90.75 m, the lake has a surface area of 25 km², increasing to about 100 km² at 92.75 m. In that state it is considered to be the biggest lake in Latvia.
Other small former lakes within the Lubanas basin have been artificially drained and the land used for agriculture.
Type – natural lake, reservoir
Primary inflows – Rēzekne, Malta, Malmuta, Lisinja
Primary outflows – Aiviekste River
Catchment area – 2,040 km2 (790 sq mi)
Basin countries – Latvia
Max. length – 15.7 km (9.8 mi)
Surface area – 25–100 km2 (9.7–38.6 sq mi)
Average depth – 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
Max. depth – 3.5 m (11 ft)
Surface elevation – 90–93 m (295–305 ft)
Lake Lubāns is surrounded by Lubāns wetlands (area 813 km2). It is a unique natural formation of European and global importance with an important role in the preservation of many protected species and biotopes. 225 bird species have been recorded in the lake surroundings, of which 51 are enlisted among the most protected species in Latvia.
Bird-watching
6 vantage towers are available for bird-watching; a telescope and binoculars – at the Tourism Information Point of Lubāns wetlands.
Tourism possibilities in Lake Lubāns surroundings:
- Tourism Information Point of Lubāns wetlands (ph. +371 29234956) offers: tourism guide books, a telescope and binoculars for watching the birds and the scenery, rent of a 6-seat boat, accommodation for 5 persons, guided tours.
- Walking on the 800 m long Teirumnieki Marsh Trail.
- Lake Lubāns fish available for purchase.
- A fishing farm offers tours of industrial fishing to smaller visitor groups (ph. +371 29204956).
- Degustation of Lake Lubāns fish soup and stockfish; fish for sale in the Zvejnieki farmstead (ph. +371 28301143).
- Boat rides on the Aiviekste River: itineraries, canoe rent, transportation of boats and passengers (ph. +371 25434346, +371 20224063).